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Justin Poehnelt
WAITLIST ACTIVE July 18, 2026
The Cherokee

70k

Tellico Plains, TN
Other Distances: 130kWaucheesi Challenge
Field Strength
71.8%
1 Elite (90+)
Total Entrants
64
Registered Runners

The Cherokee is a premier mountain ultramarathon held in Tellico Plains, Tennessee, that takes runners through the technical terrain and dense wilderness of the Cherokee National Forest. Spanning distances up to 130K with over 19,000 feet of elevation gain, it is a grueling 'rite of passage' that tests physical grit against a backdrop of ancient Appalachian history.

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Field Strength

Field Strength
71.8%
Rank of 20th
+5.3%
Median Rank
71.8%
90+
1
80-89
6
60-79
26
<60
6
New
25
Elite Runners (90+)
Count
1
-0.1 vs avg
% of Field
1.6%
+0.7% vs avg

About rankings: Stats based on 39 runners with 5+ UltraSignup finishes.

Field Strength is the UltraSignup rank of the 20th strongest qualified runner—a higher value indicates greater depth of talent.

Excluded: 18 with <5 finishes, 7 unranked

90+ = Elite • 80-89 = Strong • 60-79 = Experienced • <60 = Developing

Registration Analysis

Total Entrants
64
Ranked Runners
39
Field Size Meter
Smallest (51) Largest (200)

Field

Top Men

Rank Score
NS
Noah Strickland
8 results
Cleveland, TN
96.7%
CW
Chris Weissmann
47 results
Charlotte, NC
84.9%
KF
Kyle Ference
10 results
Atlanta, GA
82.5%
DJ
Dusty Jameson
16 results
Knoxville, TN
81.3%
MJ
Mac Jackson
8 results
Delray Beach, FL
78.7%